Atkins is still just six months removed from his ACL tear and remains questionable for training camp. Updates on his status have been hard to come by, but Atkins is expected to avoid opening the year on the reserve/PUP list. Devon Still and Brandon Thompson are getting reps at nose tackle during OTAs.

Atkins hasn't had any setbacks in his recovery from ACL surgery, but is just three months removed from the injury and will be in a race to get cleared for the start of camp. He's expected to avoid opening the season on the reserve/PUP list and should be ready for Week 1. An All-Pro in 2012, Atkins had 20 tackles and six sacks over nine starts before going down. He graded out as the No. 11 defensive tackle by Pro Football Focus.

Atkins suffered his ligament tear on Halloween and will likely open 2014 training camp on the active/PUP list. The Bengals are likely still counting on Atkins to be ready for Week 1. Despite the in-season losses of top pass rusher Atkins and top cover corner Leon Hall (Achilles'), Cincinnati still finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in total defense. It's a testament to DC Mike Zimmer, who ought to be rewarded with a head-coaching job.

Atkins tore the ACL in his right knee on Thursday night. In a best-case scenario, the Bengals will get the All-Pro back for Week 1 of next season. Interior lineman have a far better chance of returning to form off this injury than a skill player. Atkins' fourth NFL season ends with 20 tackles and six sacks in nine games. He was signed to a six-year, $56 million contract that included $31 million guaranteed just two months ago.

Bengals confirm torn ACL for DT Geno Atkins | 11/01/2013 12:26 PM

News

Coach Marvin Lewis confirmed DT Geno Atkins tore his right ACL on Thursday night and is done for the season.

Joe Reedy on Twitter

Impact

It's a crushing blow and is quite possibly the biggest defensive injury of the season. A year after registering 12.5 sacks and 53 tackles, Atkins was on his way to posting another All-Pro season. His year ends with 20 tackles and six sacks. Atkins was sitting at No. 5 in Pro Football Focus' defensive tackle ratings. The Bengals are expected to search the street for defensive tackle help. Richard Seymour is a name to keep an eye on. That's pure speculation on our part, though. Seymour wants money and the Bengals have plenty of cap space.

It's perhaps the most significant defensive injury of the season. Atkins has emerged as the best interior lineman in the league by a wide margin over the past three seasons, dominating against the run while also racking up 18.5 sacks over his last 25 games. Just two months ago, he inked a six-year, $56 million contract that included $31 million guaranteed and $22 million in the first six months. The Bengals have now lost Atkins and top corner Leon Hall (Achilles) for the season. They're losses that will be almost impossible to overcome.

Geno Atkins leaves game with knee injury | 10/31/2013 9:32 PM

News

Bengals DT Geno Atkins was forced from Thursday night's Week 9 game against the Dolphins with a right knee injury.

Rotoworld.com

Bengals ink $55M extension w/ All-Pro Atkins | 09/02/2013 9:57 AM

News

Bengals agreed to terms with DT Geno Atkins on a five-year, $55 million contract extension.

Joe Reedy on Twitter

Impact

Atkins will earn $31 million over the first three years of the deal and he's worth every penny. Atkins has emerged as the game's most dominant 4-3 defensive tackle, racking up 12.5 sacks, 54 tackles, four forced fumbles and two batted balls last season. Entering his fourth NFL season, he's already been to the Pro Bowl twice, been a first-team All-Pro once and graded out as ProFootballFocus' No. 1 defensive tackle by an obscene margin last year. Atkins, fellow tackle Domata Peko, left end Carlos Dunlap and right end Michael Johnson make up arguably the league's premier defensive line. Now only Haloti Ngata and Ndamukong Suh have larger contracts at the interior line position than Atkins.

Bengals, Geno Atkins not close on extension? | 08/11/2013 9:40 AM

News

The National Football Post repots the Bengals and contract-year DT Geno Atkins are not close to an extension.

National Football Post

Impact

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday that the Bengals were making a "strong push" to get Atkins locked up, but the Post says there is "still a ways to go before ink meets paper." Both reporters could be right, of course. Perhaps we'll learn more on this Tuesday's Hard Knocks.

Bengals working to lock up DT Geno Atkins | 08/08/2013 7:56 PM

News

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday the Bengals are making a "strong push" to sign DT Geno Atkins to a long-term extension.

Rotoworld.com

Report: Bengals, Atkins having 'dialogue' | 08/06/2013 10:43 PM

News

League sources tell CBS' Jason La Canfora the Bengals and contract-year DT Geno Atkins have had an "ongoing dialogue," but are "nowhere close" to a new deal.

CBSSports.com

Impact

La Canfora reported in June that there was a "chasm" between the sides, and it doesn't sound like they've done much to bridge it. Still only 25 and one of the league's very best players, Atkins is going to cost a fortune to lock up long-term.

Geno Atkins a freak at defensive tackle | 07/03/2013 11:55 AM

News

Bengals DT Geno Atkins recorded at least a half-sack in 10 games last season.

The sides haven't done much negotiating heading into the final year of Atkins' rookie contract, but sound like they're miles apart in the early going. It's not exactly a surprise, as Atkins is one of the top defensive linemen in the league, while the Bengals remain its thriftiest club. Atkins would almost certainly be franchise tagged next offseason absent a new deal.

Bengals to focus on extension with DT Atkins | 05/26/2013 1:18 PM

News

The Cincinnati Enquirer expects the Bengals to prioritize a contract extension with DT Geno Atkins before the start of the season.

Cincinnati Enquirer

Impact

Atkins is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is a candidate for a long-term deal now that almost all of the Bengals' draft picks have signed. A two-time All Pro, Atkins is likely to command top-five defensive tackle money. The Bengals have also held extension talks with contract-year DE Carlos Dunlap.

Bengals hoarding money for Geno Atkins? | 03/26/2013 8:55 AM

News

Bengals.com says the team has been frugal in free agency because they will try to sign DT Geno Atkins to an extension next season.

bengals.com

Impact

Yes, Atkins is the best defensive tackle in the game and is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Re-signing him is going to be extremely expensive. And the Bengals should also be trying to work out an extension with LE Carlos Dunlap. But we'd have an easier time buying this as a plan if owner Mike Brown didn't annually sit on a pile of bills and count his cash instead of pushing up against the cap like his peers.

Geno Atkins gets pay bump after escalator | 01/30/2013 10:49 PM

News

Bengals DT Geno Atkins' salary jumped from $575,000 to $1.423 million based on rookie-deal incentives.

Rotoworld.com

Impact

Atkins is entering the final year of his contract, and the Bengals have already dabbled in "brief, casual" extension talks with his agent. Turning 25 in March, Atkins is already a two-time Pro Bowler and was selected as a first-team All-Pro this past season. Atkins set career-best marks with 53 tackles and 12.5 sacks in 2012. His next contract will be monstrous.

Bengals, Atkins have brief extension dialogue | 01/25/2013 12:07 PM

News

The Bengals and DT Geno Atkins' agent had a "brief, casual" encounter at the Senior Bowl in an effort to begin contract extension talks.

bengals.com

Impact

"We had some dialogue down here," Atkins' agent Pat Dye said. "Both sides would like to get something sooner rather than later. It's just a matter of sitting down and getting it done in a way that that satisfies both sides." Atkins, 25 in March, is in Hawaii taking in his second-straight Pro Bowl while coming off an All-Pro first team selection. He's set to enter the final year of his rookie deal and should command upwards of $6 million per season on his next contract. The Bengals would be wise to lock him up as quickly as possible.

Atkins named a first team All-Pro | 01/12/2013 4:09 PM

News

Bengals DT Geno Atkins was named to the 2012 Associated Press All-Pro first team.

Rotoworld.com

Impact

Atkins received 42-of-50 votes, which was third on defense behind J.J. Watt's unanimous selection and Von Miller's 48 votes. Atkins, 24, set a single-season Bengals franchise record for sacks by an interior lineman with 12.5 and forced four fumbles. Pro Football Focus gave him a 79.9 overall rating that put him almost 50 points ahead of the second-best rating among the league's defensive tackles. Atkins has one year left on his rookie contract. Cincinnati needs to lock him up immediately.